It's been almost 30 years since the fall of the second Death Star and the splintering of the Galactic Empire. The Rebellion, now known as the Resistance, has a much larger following and are actively engaged around the Galaxy with what is left of the still powerful Galactic Empire. The Empire, now rebranded as the First Order are just as dastardly evil but are even more hell bent on the subjugation and control of the galaxy. With the Resistance and the First Order in a fiery battle the Jedi Order has begun to slowly grow back with the help of new Jedi around the galaxy expanding their influences. The Sith, however, are secretly amassing inside the ranks of the First Order, just as how Darth Vader operated within the Empire many years ago.
